Stable Notes by Mike Ahrens: Saturday, June 20, 2020

The featured race was the Mountain Top New Mexico Bred Thoroughbred Futurity, worth $163,415 with $81,708 going to the winner. With the scratch of Shamefully Sweet a field of nine went postward. Todd Fincher trained five of the runners and while his One Mark drew the outside post, the remaining four had post positions one through four.

"It's all post position," said Fincher, intimating just how important he thinks this factor is. When heavily-favored Aisle Runner broke inwardly from post one and was consequently last with many horses in front of him, rider Luis Fuentes had to bide his time then shift out through the turn for running room. He ran on well to finish fourth.

Fred Danley had two trainees in the race, third choice Bully Baby who set the early tempo before being joined by rivals inside and outside her. The one who moved up inside on the turn was stablemate Fill the Bill, who in the trial "closed really good but just got tired" according to Danley. Outside Bully Baby on the turn was One Mark. In upper- to mid-stretch Fill the Bill, with a narrow lead, drifted out slightly brushing One Mark in the process. Subsequently, Fill the Bill dug in to hold on by a quarter-length over a closing My Storm Warrior, also from the Fincher barn, who was gaining along the inside after saving ground through the turn. It was another three-quarters lengths back to One Mark at the wire. "She's a good filly, no doubt about it" said Danley, who instructed rider Elvin Gonzalez to sit just off the early lead out of the dirt then make a move.

Following the race, the stewards posted an inquiry into the stretch run and upon review ordered Fill the Bill disqualified and placed behind One Mark for interference, elevating My Storm Warrior to first place. The connections must have been disappointed, but Danley was philosophical, stating "That's the way it goes," while also suggesting he might appeal the stewards' ruling.